At that moment, the gem in the medallion suddenly flared so bright it lit up the entire area around the
outcropping.
“Smother that!” Falstad whispered.
The ranger tried, but it was already too late. Not only did the dragon turn back, but this time the orc
reacted, too. Torch and blade before him, he started toward their hiding place. The crimson leviathan
stalked behind him, ready to move at his command.
Remove the medallion from around your neck,Krasus commanded.Be prepared to throw it in the
direction of the dragon.
“But—”
Do it.
Quickly removing the talisman, Vereesa readied it in her hand. Falstad glanced at his companion, but
held his tongue.
The orc drew nearer. Alone, he represented enough of a challenge, but with the dragon at his side, the
ranger and her companion had little hope.
Tell the dwarf to step out, reveal himself.
“He wants you to go out there, Falstad,” she muttered, not sure why she even bothered to tell the dwarf
such folly.
“Would he prefer I walk into the mouth of the dragon or just lie down in front of the beast and let it
gnaw on me at its leisure?”
There is little time.
Again she repeated the wizard's words. Falstad blinked, took a deep breath, and nodded.
Stormhammer ready, he slipped around Vereesa and past the protection of the rocks.
The dragon roared. The orc grunted, tusked mouth widening in an anticipatory grin.
“Dwarf!” he growled. “Good! Was gettin' bored out here! You'll make good sport before you're fed to
Zarasz here! He's been feelin' hungry!”
“'Tis you and yours who'll make for good sport, pigface! I was getting a little cool out here! Crushing in
your thick skull will warm my bones up, all right!”
Both orc and beast advanced.
Throw the talisman at the dragon now. Be certain it lands near the vicinity of his mouth.
The command sounded so absurd that at first Vereesa doubted that she had heard correctly. Then it
occurred to her that perhaps Krasus could cast a spell through the medallion, one that would at least
incapacitate the savage creature.
Throw it now, before your friend loses his life.
Falstad! The ranger leapt out, surprising both sentries. She took one fast glance at the orc—then, with
expert aim, threw the medallion at the mouth of the dragon.
The dragon stretched forward with equally amazing accuracy, catching the talisman in his jaws.
Vereesa swore. Surely Krasus had not expected that.
However, a peculiar thing happened, one that caused all three warriors to pause. Instead of either
swallowing or tossing aside the medallion, the leviathan stood still, cocking his head. In his mouth, a red
aura erupted, but one that seemed to have no ill effect on the dragon.
To everyone's bewilderment, the behemothsat down.
Not at all pleased by this turn, the orc shouted a command. The dragon, however, did not seem to hear
him, instead looking as if he listened to another voice far away.
“Your hound's found a toy to play with, orc!” mocked Falstad. “Looks like you'll have to fight your own
battles for once!”
In response, the tusked warrior thrust his torch forward, nearly setting the dwarf 's beard ablaze.
Cursing, Falstad brought his stormhammer into play, coming close to crushing the orc's outstretched arm.
That, in turn, enabled the guard to make a jab with his sword.
Vereesa stood undecided. She wanted to help Falstad, but did not know if at any moment the dragon
might suddenly break out of his peculiar trance and rejoin his handler. If that happened, someone had to
be ready to face the beast.
The dwarf and his adversary traded blows, the torch and sword evening matters against the hammer.
The orc tried to drive Falstad back, no doubt hoping that his foe would trip on the highly uneven ground.
The elf took one more look at the dragon. He still had his head cocked to the side. The eyes were open,
but they seemed to be staring off.
Steeling herself, Vereesa turned from the leviathan and headed to Falstad's rescue. If the dragon
attacked them, so be it. She could not risk letting her comrade die.
The orc sensed her coming, for as she thrust at him, he swung the torch around. Vereesa gasped as the
flames came within scant inches of her face.
Yet her coming forced the guard to fight on two fronts, and because of this, his attempt to burn her had
left him open. Falstad needed no urging to take advantage of it. The hammer came down.
A guttural cry from the orc nearly smothered the sound of bone cracking. The sword slipped from the
tusked warrior's quivering hand. The hammer had shattered the arm at the elbow, leaving the entire arm
useless.
Fueled by both pain and fury, the crippled guard shoved the torch into Falstad's chest. The dwarf
stumbled back, trying to beat out the fires smoldering on both his beard and chest. His brutish foe tried to
advance, but the elf cut him off.
“Little elf!” he snarled. “Burn you, too!”
Between the torch and his own lengthy arm, his reach far exceeded her own. Vereesa ducked twice as
the fire came at her. She had to end this quickly, before the orc managed to catch her off guard.
When he swung at her next, she aimed not for him, but rather for the torch. That meant letting the flames
come perilously near. The orc's savage face twisted into an expression of anticipation as he thrust.
The tip of her sword dug into the wood, ripping it from the startled sentry's fingers. Her success far
better than expected, Vereesa fell forward, pushing the torch with her.
The fire caught the orc full in the face. He roared in pain, brushing the torch away. The damage had been
done, though. His eyes, nose, and most of his upper countenance had been seared by the heat. He could
no longer see.
Acting with some guilt, but knowing she had to silence him, Vereesa ran the blind orc through, cutting off
his pained cries.
“By the Aerie!” snapped Falstad. “Thought I'd never put myself out!”
Still gasping, the elf managed, “Are—are you—all right?”
“Saddened at the loss of so many good years' beard growth, but I'll get over it! What's the matter with
our overgrown hound there?”
The dragon had dropped down on all fours now, as if preparing to sleep. The medallion still lay in his
mouth, but, as they watched, he gently dropped it to the ground before him—then looked at the pair as if
expecting one of them to retrieve it.
“Does he want us to do what I think he wants us to do, my elven lady?”
“I am afraid so . . . and I know by whose suggestion, too.” She started toward the expectant behemoth.
“You're not seriously going to try to pick it up, are you?”
“I have no choice.”
As the ranger neared, the dragon peered down at her. Dragons were rumored to see very well in the
dark, and had an even greater sense of smell. This close, Vereesa would surely not escape.
Using the edge of her cloak, she gingerly picked up the talisman. Left so long in the dragon's mouth, it
dripped with saliva. With some disgust, the elf wiped it off as best she could on the ground.
The gem suddenly glowed.
The way is clear,came Krasus's monotone voice.Best you hurry before others come.
“What did you do to this monster?” she muttered.
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